Surname Rappenhöner - Meaning and Origin
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Rappenhöner: What does the surname Rappenhöner mean?
The last name Rappenhöner is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘Rapp’ meaning a raven or crow. The suffix ‘-höner’ could be interpreted as a reference to the animal itself or as a reference to a person who traded or dealt in crows.
Rappenhöner is an occupational surname that was likely used by someone who worked with birds. This may have included trade in things related to crows, such as feathers for bedding or tools for hunting, or it may have been someone who was employed as a gamekeeper or a falconer, an occupation which existed in Germany in the middle ages. It could also have referred to someone who was a falcon or raptor expert, breeding and working with trained hunting birds.
It is likely that the family name Rappenhöner first appeared in the southern regions of Germany, particularly Bavaria and southern Baden-Württemberg, where the people had extensive knowledge of animals and animal husbandry. It is also possible that the name could have originated in a nearby region such as Switzerland, Austria or France.
The name Rappenhöner is still carried by numerous families in Germany and other parts of the world, mostly in regions where its original meaning was known.
Order DNA origin analysisRappenhöner: Where does the name Rappenhöner come from?
The last name Rappenhöner is most commonly found in Germany today, particularly in Bavaria.
Rappenhöner is a German surname which originated in the Middle Ages, when people used fixed surnames to identify themselves and their families. This family name is derived from a place name and is based on the now obsolete word 'Rappen', referring to a kind of horse.
Rappenhöner is a fairly rare last name, and its variant spellings such as Rappenhoener, Rappenhohener, Raphoener, and Rapphoener, are even rarer. Today it is mostly concentrated in the Bavarian region of Germany, where it appears in records from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Most Rappenhöner today live in the rural area around Würzburg, in Lower Franconia, which includes the towns of Volkach, Schwarzach, and Eibelstadt, where a predominant number of people bearing this last name are known to make their home.
Rappenhöner can also be found in scattered counties throughout Germany. Smaller numbers may also be found in Austria and Switzerland. This surname is certainly not common, but is likely to remain in use in one form or another for many generations to come due to its historical connections.
Variations of the surname Rappenhöner
The surname Rappenhöner is of German origin, and is a variant of the originally Swiss-German word Rappenhönli, which translates as "little horseman" or page boy.
Variant spellings of the surname Rappenhöner can include Rapenhöner, Rippenhöner, Rippenhoner, Rappenhoner, Rippenhonner, Rappenhonner, Reppenhöner and Reppenhoner.
Variant surnames which evolved from the same origin as Rappenhöner include Rappenhaner, Rippenhaner, Rappenhauer, Rippenauer, Ryppenhöner, Ryppenhoner, Reppenhaner and Reppenhauer.
The surname Rappenhöner can, in some cases, also be found spelled as Raphöner, Raphener, Rapheuer, Rieppenhoener, Rieponheiner and Rieppenheiner.
The surnames appear to have originally been used in the German, Swiss-German, and Dutch-speaking regions of mainland Europe, particularly in the Rhineland, Bavaria, Saxony and Westphalia in modern-day Germany, and the Netherlands and Northern France, where records show the name is still in use today.
Famous people with the name Rappenhöner
- Bo Rappenhöner, German actor
- Kaylen Rappenhöner, Australian racing driver
- Solveigh Rappenhöner, German opera director
- David Rappenhöner, Austrian film director
- Severin Rappenhöner, German stage and silent film actor
- Robert Rappenhöner, Austrian journalist
- Ewald Rappenhöner, German actor
- Guiseppe Rappenhöner, German lecturer and economist
- Karen Rappenhöner, Australian artist
- Bernhard Rappenhöner, Austrian film director, cinematographer and editor